EDRA/GHIN General Secretary and Co-Founder John W. Herbert will retire on 31 March 2026, concluding a 22-year tenure in the role.
During his leadership, EDRA/GHIN grew from two founding associations into a global network representing 232 retail members operating more than 35,000 stores across 79 countries, with combined annual sales exceeding €400 billion. Herbert also co-founded the Global DIY-Summit, an annual event for the DIY, home improvement and garden sector, bringing together industry leaders to shape the future of the market.
“It is the right time to step back after a 70-year career in retailing,” Herbert said. “It has been an honour to unite the industry under the EDRA/GHIN umbrella and through the Global DIY-Summit.”
A successor has already been elected by the EDRA/GHIN Board and Members and will be announced in due course. Following his retirement, Herbert will remain involved with EDRA/GHIN, Make it Zero and the Global DIY-Summit in a supportive capacity.
Herbert co-founded the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) in 2002 to provide a unified voice for the European DIY, home improvement and garden retail sector. In 2015, the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN) was established to meet growing demand from retailers outside Europe.
“John leaves an extraordinary legacy,” said Erwin Van Osta, President of EDRA/GHIN. “His vision, determination and personal commitment transformed a small European initiative into a respected worldwide network and a trusted voice for our sector. On behalf of the Board and our members, I would like to thank John for his decades of leadership and service.”
EDRA recently appointed Van Osta, Owner and CEO of Hubo, as its President.
